bronchiole

[ brong-kee-ohl ]

noun

, Anatomy.

1. a small branch of a bronchus.

bronchiole

/ ˌbrɒŋkɪˈəʊlə; ˈbrɒŋkɪˌəʊl /

noun

1. any of the smallest bronchial tubes, usually ending in alveoli

bronchiole

/ brŏng′kē-ōl′ /

1. Any of the small, thin-walled tubes that branch from a bronchus and end in the alveolar sacs of the lung.

Derived Forms

• bronchiolar, adjective

Other Words From

• bron·chi·o·lar [brong-kee-, oh, -ler, brong-, kahy, -, uh, -], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of bronchiole¹

1865–70; < New Latin bronchiolum, equivalent to bronchi ( a ) bronchia + -olum -ole ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of bronchiole¹

C19: from New Latin bronchiolum , diminutive of Late Latin bronchium , singular of bronchia

Example Sentences

R.S.V. predominantly affects the small airways, called bronchioles, that branch off from bronchi in the lungs.

From New York Times

Normally 3.5 to 4 millimeters in diameter, nearly twice as wide as Valdastri’s tentacle robot, the device enters through a patient’s nose or mouth and goes into the lung’s airways, called bronchioles.

From Washington Post

Regions designated as small-airway disease by PRM corresponded to characteristics of that condition — the loss, narrowing, thickening and obstruction of the bronchioles.

From Nature

Neutrophils swarm into the lungs and may encourage scar tissue to build up in the bronchioles, the lungs’ smallest airways, which can cause them to clog.

From Science Magazine

About ten sextillion molecules of atmosphere are now squeezing their way through the intricate tree of bronchi and bronchioles forming your lungs.

From Scientific American